Target trap



Aug. 21, 1934. w. J. SUTCLVIFFE 1,971,056

TARGET TRAP Filed Jan. 25, 1933 66 a5 0 Q Q 34 74/3 JifiutcZzjfe, by

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 3 Claims.

improve the construction of the target throwingarm ofsuch; a trap, by rendering itssupporting '5 means adjustable; whereby greater efficiency is given thereto in the varying of the directions of propulsion of targets,

Thisobjectl have accomplishedby the means which arehereinafter described and claimed, and 19 which areillustrated in-theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. l is; a side elevation of a marksmanis target trap with parts removed or inv section; Figs. 2 and3= are respectivelyrplans .of the top-and; bottom of thetarget throwingarm on :;angenlargedscale, and-Fig; 4-is a cross section thereof taken on the broken line 4-4 of said Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 isra viewof a well known target trap having a metal base block-2 on a plank 1, and centrally; vertically socketed to; seat rotatably horiz. ontally ,,;t hedependingstemor rock-gshaft 4 of a rockbody 3' set thereon. The-numeral 8 denotes another rock-body pivotally mounted on the rock-body -3 :on a .pintle-bolt 5 with clamping-nut,

to secure it in an adjusted degree of. vertical tilting longitudinally. The rock-body 8 has an arcuate slot? with radiusto said pintle-bolt 5, and a bolt 6 with a clamping-nut thereon traverses the slot and an aperture in the body 3 to be secured 39;, by the nut when the body 8 has been adjustably tilted relative to the body 3.

The numeral 12 denotes a U-shaped trap frame for holding the operative mechanism by which the target throwing arm 25 is actuated.

3:5; This mechanism, with elements omitted, may be a rock-shaft 22 upon whose top the arm 25 is secured, a sprocket-wheel 21 carrying a sprocketchain 20 end-connected to a rockable body 18 and the latter pivoted swingingly at its top to the upper member of the frame. A traction-rod 16 for said chain connected to the body 18, an anchoring rod 19 fixed in one end of the frame, and a coiled tension spring 1'7 connected between said rod 19 and the rock-shaft 22 in a well-known way ;;not shown. The frame 12 has at or near one end on its lower parallel frame member lugs or projecting parts 15 and 13 apertured. in alinement to seat therebetween a pintle rod 11.

The rock-body 8 has at the top the longitudi- 5o,;nally spaced apertured lugs 9 and 10 mounted loosely on the shaft or rod 11, whereby the frame 12 is swingably mounted on said rod and body 8. The projection or lug 13 on the frame 12 is fixed thereon to depend alongside the rock-body 8, and

;; has at its lower end an arcuate slotnot shown traversed by a threadedstem- 14 andsecuredbyr a clamping-nut; whereby said frame-may beheld at adesired degree of lateral tilting, relative-t0 the'body 3, but the slot is not, shown; as the subject-matter of this construction topermit such lateral: adjustable tilting of said frame is; the object of i a co-pendingapplication-for patent;

The rock-shaft 22 is seated rockably; inalinedf bearings such as at 23 of the frame 12. Referring now'to said Figs. 2 to 4-inclusive, the throwingplate 27 is-of approximately oblong shape, having near one longitudinal edge a shortlongitudinally disposed slot 29; and having; on its upper face along the opposite edge from said slot spaced fixed standards 35 along and upon which-aroma secured a rigidbar 36 of U-shaped'cross section andopening toward saidslot 29, and preferably with a strip of elastic rubber 3'7 mounted withinits deep groove, to project laterally therefrom. On its bottom the plate 27v has spaced parallel ribs to seat therebetween the fitting arm 25 secured by screws or other fastening means. This arm has without said plate an apertured head 24; mountable upon thetoppart of the rock-shaft 22,- and secured thereto by aset-screw; 805- Referring to Figs. 3 and-4, the numeralBO de notes a rib on said plate setjoif from but parallel; to said ribs 26, and narrowly spaced from the rib 30 is another rib 31 parallel therewith, .and the plate has also several spaced lugs or teeth 32 alined with the rib 31. One of the parallel ribs first mentioned on the plate 27 is lengthened at 34 to extend almost the entire length of the plate.

The numeral 38 denotes a rock-shaft rod seated in the bearing channel between the ribs 30 and 31 and retained therein by a split-key 33 traversing both transversely across the rod. One end part of this rod is bent doubly with an arm 39 angularly having a weight 40 on its free extremity.

The opposite end part of the rock-shaft 38 is bent at a right angle at 41 to be seated in any aperture between the teeth 32 adjustable when the shaft is suitably longitudinally displaced in its bearing channel. The arm 41 is again bent upwardly with its termination 43 normally traversing the slot 29 of the plate 2'7 to project above the upper surface of the plate, due to the weight 40 on the other arm 39. Preferably there may be mounted on the arm 41 a short rubber sleeve 42 to contact cushioningly across and with a long variously curved rib 28 on the bottom of the plate 27, as a stop.

A target, such as the well-known frangible clay turreted disk type, may be placed upon the throwing plate 2'7, after the frame 12 has been adjusted as desired for longitudinal and lateral tilting by the means above described, and to engage with the outer edge or" the cushioning rubber strip 35 and with the upwardly projecting termination 43 of the crank-arm 41. When the trap mechanism is operated to release and swing the resiliently controlled throwing arm 25, the target disk rolls lengthwise along the plate 2'? outwardly along the rubber strip 35 and while in rapid rotation is projected into the air at a certain angle to the trap.

My invention resides in the adjustability of the extremity of the crank arm 41 and 43 longitudinally of the plate 27, as the crank part 41 is set into one or another of the reoessesoropenings between the teeth 32. According to the greater or less travel of the'target along the' ously lowering the other arm 21-43 with the end of the part 43 below the top of the plate '27 at atime when the target should be ejected from the plate, and thus the target is released for such a variable throw without being prematurely shattered on the plate.

Various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the apparatus and its connections may be made without departure from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent;

1. In a target trap, in combination, a target carrying and delivering device mounted rockingly thereon, comprising a plate having a straight edgeelementraised along one longitudi- 'get.

3. In a target trap, in combination, a target nal edge thereof the plate having a longitudinal- 1y directed slot opposite said element, and a rock-body mounted on and under the plate for longitudinal adjustments therealong, one termination of the rock-body normally traversing said slot upwardly to provide a withdrawable stop thereabove, and the other termination of the rock-body shaped and weighted to rock under the influence of gravity when the plate. is rocked in one direction, to withdraw the stop part below the upper surface of the plate and release a target stopped thereagainst, and against the said straight edge element. I

2.31m a target trap, in combination, a target carrying and delivering device mounted swingingly thereon, and comprising a plate having a longitudinal marginal stop wall, and a rockable member mounted longitudinally under said plate, having one end bent upwardly to extend above the plate to provide a removable stop for the target, and having the other end bent rever'sely to the first end and weighted, whereby when the plate is swung in one direction the rod is rocked by its weighted end part to withdraw its first stop end from the path or" projection of the tarcarrying and delivering device mounted swingingly th reon and comprising a plate having a marginal wall, and a rockable rod mounted longitudinally on the under face of the plate, having a cranked arm rising'normally above-the top the plateto serve as a stop for a target which also en opp 1y projecting crank arm at its other end weigl ed to rock the rod when the plate is ILLIs J. ISUTCLIEFE.

s said marginal wall, said rod having 

